Lighting fixture



5 Sheets-Sheet vl Filed Jan. 50, 1932 INVENTOR l lZ/y/ba/d We/den BY flffiwww ATTORNEY Get. 9, 1934. w. A. WELDEN LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1934- w. A. WELDEN LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30, 1952 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STA LIGHTING FIXTURE William Archibald Welden, Stamford, Conn., as-

signor to Kantack as Company, Inc., New York. N. Y., a corporation or New York Application January 30, 1932, Serial No. 589,789

' 9 Claim.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures in general and more especially to lighting fixtures adapted for efiecting indirect lighting.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved lighting fixture for efiecting indirect illumination in which the lamp bulb is suspended from a downwardly lacing socket and means are provided for obstructing the direct passage of the light rays. from such bulb downwardly but permitting the light rays from such bulb to be directed upwardly in a direct path against the ceiling.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture for effecting indirect illumination in which a single lamp is secured to a downwardly facing socket, the direct passage of the downwardly extending light rays from said lamp bulb being obstructed and redirected upwardly and only the upwardly extending light rays unobstructed to cause the same to be directed against the ceiling or other downwardly facing defiector to produce indirect illumination.

It is still another. object oi the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture for effecting indirect illumination in which there is used a single lamp secured to a downwardly racing socket and which lighting fixture may be produced at a minimum cost and the care of which for maximum efilciency may be reduced to a minimum since the only suriace to be cleaned is substantially vertical and thus indisposcd to collect dust particles, especially the heavier dust particles and only collect the lighter dust particles to a minimum extent.

It is still anothe object of the present invention to provide in a lighting fixture for eilecting indirect illumination, structural improvements such as improved means for eliminating or break ing the cutoff shadow line 'on the ceiling, im-' proved means for connecting the light obstruct ing bowl to the socket covering, improved means for covering ,the lower end of the lamp and such like structural improvements.

It is still another object oi the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture for indirect illumination in which the support for the lamp is suspended from the ceiling andthe lamp bulb is secured to a downwardly facing socket by means of which maximum efilciency may be produced at a minimum cost of material and a minimum cost of upkeep.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture in which the electric light bulb constitutes an intimate part of the fixture which consists essentially of a suspended light bulb, a shallow bowl or globe having a central opening through which the bulb protrudes downwardly, a cap secured around the downwardly protruding portion of the 00 b'ulb, the bulb extending down relative to said bowl and cap to a depth where the path of the direct light rays in the line of vision from the bulb will be interrupted by the bowl and cap.

These and other features, capabilities and ad- 6 vantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a iragmental side elevation partly T0 in section of one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental detail showing a part of the socket covering and means for connecting the bowl to the socket covering of the I embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental detail showing the connection of the bowl, cap and connect n means relative to the light bulb of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig; 5 is a fragmental side elevation partly in action of a lighting fixture made according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged iragmental section show- 85. ing the socket covering and means for connecting the bowl coupling thereto of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. '1 is a bottom plan view or the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged tragmental section or the lower end of the lamp bulb showing the connection 01- the bowl to the coupling and likewise the connectionbetween the coupling and the cap ior the lower end of the bulb of the embodiment illus-' 05 trated in Fig. 5.

- I n the'embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is shown a conduit 1 connected totheceiling 2 in the usual way, which conduit 1 m the present instance encloses a second con- I00 4 extends down considerably'beyond the lower edge preferably composed of some suitable translucent of the socket 4. This covering may partake of any desirable decorative form, in the present instance it being shown as provided with a plurality of annularindentations 7.

The present fixture is intended for use especially with the higher wattage lamp bulbs such as the two hundred watt type, one hundred and fifty watt type and the like, which lamp bulbs, see the bulb 8 illustrative of the two hundred watt type, has an elongated neck portion 9 which is practically covered by the covering 6, the upper end of the head or protuberance 10 of the bulb 8 being disposed just below the lower edge of the covering 6. With this embodiment, there is preferably used a lamp bulb that is frosted, as illustrated.

The lower edge of the covering 6 has secured thereto a plurality of wires or fastening strips 11 preferably composed of phosphor bronze or spring steel which extend down to a point approximating the level of the filament 12 of the bulb 8, the lower ends of which strips form the anchoring or connecting means for supporting the cap 14 in place and cooperate with portions of the cap to form connecting means for supporting the bowl 13 in place.

The bowl 13 may be composed of metal but is opal glass which may become luminous when the lamp is illuminated. The bowl 13 is provided with a central opening 16 greater in diameter than the diameter of the protuberance 10 at its widest portion to facilitate passage of the protuberance 10 through such opening 16 and in addition accommodate the upper edge of the cap 14 and the lower ends of the strips 11. The bowl 13 constitutes an annular laterally extending member relative to the bulb 8.

In shape, in the present instance, the area 1'7 of this bowl 13 is almost common to a plane parallel thereto and from then on the bowl gradually curves upwardly with an increasingly sharper curve up to the area 18, the curve of which is decidedly sharper than that of the remaining portion below it so that it may produce a brighter fect aforesaid. The cap 14 is preferably composed of some suitable metal and in size sufficient to extend up above the level of the filament 12. The upper portion of the cap 14 is preferably bent outwardly to form an L-shaped annular extension, the leg portion 19 of which is folded back upon the cap and extends downwardly from the upper edge thereof and the annular arm 20 thereof extends outwardly from the lower edge of the leg 19 terminating in the upwardly curved portion 21. The upwardly curved portion 21 is provided with a plurality of recesses 22, in the present instance three in number, to accommodate the lower ends 23 of the strips 11. These recesses 22 are preferably equally spaced from one another to define the symmetrical location for the lower ends 23 of the strips 11.

When the strips 11 are composed of flat stock such as illustrated, the upper ends thereof are hook-formed, each having a portion 24 bent inwardly back upon the main body of its strip 11 trated in Fig. 2 with the wall portions 26 of the covering 6 enclosed in the space formed between the portions 24 and the main body of the strips 11.

The body portions of the strips 11 preferably .curve outwardly to clear the bulb 8 in their downward extent from their upper hook portions to their lower anchoring portions 23. The portions 23 each consist essentially of an outwardlyextending arm 28 extending through one of the recesses 22 and terminating in the downwardly curved portion 29 which overlaps, engaging the lower surface of the curved portion 21 of the cap 14 to support the cap 14 in place, in which case the upper edge of the curved portion 21 will engage and support the inner edge of the bowl 13.

From the foregoing, it will appear that this new lamp fixture consists essentially in a lamp bulb 8, a shallow bowl 13, cap 14 and the means for connecting or supporting the cap 14- and bowl 13 in place on the lamp bulb 8 so that the direct light rays from the lamp can only freely pass:

interrupt the free passage of the direct light rays along the line of vision. The cap 14 is preferably polished on the inside to reflect the light received by it upwardly through the bulb 8 onto the ceiling 2.

It will also appear that a comparatively inconspicuously appearing lighting fixture will be provided whereby amaximum efficiency for indirect illumination may be produced with a single light bulb.

It will also appear that a novel decorative effect may be produced with this type of fixture, to wit, a luminous bowl and bright halo resembling band without in any way impairing the efficiency of the lighting efiect otherwise obtainmit the same to be snapped into place as illusable. The direct light rays from the filament 12 will of course be diffused by the frosted surface of the bulb 8. The direct rays'from this diffused surface will be interrupted from the line of vision by the cap 14 and bowl 13 and the inner surface of the bowl 13 which may be polished, cannot receive any of the direct light rays from the filament 12 but only indirect light rays due to the frosted surface of the bulb 8 to produce a luminous body with a bright band at the outer end thereof. The bowl 13 may of course assume various decorative shapes or forms and its outer surface when desired may be caused to produce a decorative efi'ect by applying to it decorative designs either in color or colors or by frosting or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, there is provided a conduit 1' for enclosing the conduit 3' of the wiring to a'lamp which end of the lamp bulb 30 which is for the present purpose preferably of thehigh wattage type such as one hundred and fifty watts or two hundred watts. The bulb illustrated is of the two hundred watts type in which the upper level of the filament 31 is disposed below the line 32.

The elements now to be described constitute both individually and in combination the main features of this embodiment.

When a lamp bulb 30 of two hundred watts is used such as illustrated, the assembly disclosed in Fig. 5, can be used to the best advantage. This assembly consists of a socket covering 33 to the lower end of which is connected the coupling 34 by the connector 35 and which coupling 34 extends down below the point of the line 32 to receive the horizontally extending upwardly deflecting bowl 35 and to the inner lower end of which coupling 34 is connected the upper end of the cap 36 for covering the lower end of the lamp bulb 30.

The socket covering 33 is preferably composed of brass and in the present instance is provided with three annular recesses or beads 37, 38 and 39 disposed above one another and adjacent to one another with the lowermost bead 39 at the edge of the covering 33. The connector 35 preferably consists of a coiled spring wire annulus or string of beads constituting an annulus which in length is predetermined to lit in the bead 39 to effect the connecting operation to be described.

The coupling 34 is preferably composed of glass having a cylindrical portion 40 terminating in a diminished neck 41 at its .upper end and a lower dome shaped outwardly extending portion 42 terminating at its lower end in a shoulder forming rib 43 forming the annular outer shoulder 44 and the annular inner recess 45.

The diameter of the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 40 is preferably larger than the diameter of the outer periphery of the connector 35 when disposed in the head 39 so that the same may with facility clear the same. The diameter of the inner periphery of the neck 41 on the other hand is much smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery of the connector 35 but larger than the diameter of the outer periphery of the brass covering member 33.

Consequently when assembling the device, after the covering 33 is in place on the socket 4', 'it is only necessary first to slide the neck 41 of the coupling 34 up onto the covering member 33 to and beyond the bead 39, then place the connector 35 in the bead 39, and thereupon permit the coupling 34 to drop down so that its neck 41 rests on the connector 35*.

The bowl 35 is preferably saucer shaped having a central opening 46 and an upwardly deflecting outer edge 4'7. The diameter of the opening 46 is greater than the diameter of the lower end of the dome portion 42 of the coupling 34 to clear the same but less than the diameter of the shoulder 44 so that, see Figs. 5 and 8, the bowl 35 may with facility be supported on the shoulder 44. In assembling the same, it will be only necessary to slip the coupling 34 up through the bowl 35 until the edge of the opening 46 engages the shoulder 44.

The cap 36 in shape conforms to the lower end of the bulb 30 and extends up to and beyond the rib 43 at the lower end of the coupling 34 when the bulb 30 and coupling 34 are in operative position.

To anchor the cap 36 in place, the same is preferably provided with a plurality of spring clips 48, four being provided in the present instance, see particularly Fig. 7, which engage the upper portion of the cap 36 and extend downwardly, each having two jaws 49 and 50, the jaw a 49 being provided with an outwardly protruding projection 51 disposed to engage the recess 45 formed in the rib 43, and the jaw 50 with the lip 52 to receive one of the orifices 53 formed in the upper portion of the cap 36, the orifices 53 being four in number and equally spaced from one another as shown in Fig. '7 by the location of the clips 48, the locations of which are determined by such orifices 53.

The clips 48 are preferably composed of some suitable flat stock spring like material either phosphor bronze or spring steel.

The socket covering 33 may be secured to the socket 4' in any suitable way, it being illustrated in the present instance as having a diminished neck 50" at its upper end to form a shoulder resting on the shoulder 51 of the socket 4'.

The control of the light rays will appear from the following description of the character, quality and dimensions relative to one another of the coupling 34, bowl 35 and cap 36.

As an instance the coupling 34 is preferably composed of glass which is clear and transparent along the upper portion of the dome portion 42 and preferably extends up to the line 54 near the lower end of the cylindrical portion 40 and preferably extends down to the'line 55 substantially at the level of the upper edge of the bowl 35. From this point 55, the coupling 34 is sand blasted or made translucent down to the lower end of the dome shaped portion 42, such sand blasting increasing in intensity in a downward direction so that the translucent character of the lower portion of the coupling 34 will gradually become opaque at the very bottom and in up- -ward direction diminish or fade out into the transparent upper portion of the dome shaped Above the line 54, the coupling 34 may be clear or not as desired. In some instances, this portion may have a plurality of frosted lines or be otherwise omamentally decorated. The effective light transmitting surface of the coupling 34 is embraced between the line 54 and the lower end of the dome shaped portion 42. When the transparent portion of the coupling below the line 54 so cooperates with the translucent portion 56 to fade out at the line 55, the light rays extending upwardly from the filament 31 will produce a light area on the ceiling so graduated from an intense inner area to a less intense outer area that the shadow line otherwise formed between a translucent surface and a transparent surface willbe either eliminated or imperceptible if produced at all.

Furthermore, by intensifying the sand blasting as the rib 43 is approached, the direct light rays-from the filament 31 can under no circumstances be transmitted down between the bowl 35 and the cap 36. Aside from the foregoing, as will appear from Figs. 5 and 8, the filament 31 is disposed belowthe level of the upper edge of the cap 36.

The bowl 35 may be composed of metal or other suitable opaque substance, such for instance as dense opal glass or the like so that none of the light rays from the filament 31 may be directed downward from the coupling 34 before first striking the ceiling 2.

The outer lower surface of the bowl is preferably decorated. The inner surface of the bowl 35 may be polished to reflect any light received by it onto the ceiling, and to facilitate cleaning.

The cap 36 composed of metal as aforesaid is preferably polished on the inside to reflect whatever light is received by it outwardly onto the ceiling 2'. The outer lower surface of the cap 36 is preferably decorated in any suitable manner and for this purpose may also be polished.

When a lighting fixture is constructed according to the present invention as above described, excellent results have been produced when the dimensions are substantially as follows, an outside diameter of bowl of approximately sixteen inches, a coupling of approximately five inches in length and four and one-quarter inches in out side diameter adjacent to the rib 43, a covering 33 which extends down below the socket 4' approximately three-fourths inch when a standard two hundred watts lamp is used of about six and three-fourths inches in length from the lower end of the socket 4 to the extreme lower end of the bulb 30.

When a one hundred and fifty watts lamp is used, it being shorter in length from the lower end of the socket 4 to the filament, the bead 37 or 38 is provided to receive the connector 35 so that the same coupling 34 may be used with a one hundred and fifty watts lamp as is used in the above described structure with a two hundred watts lamp, except that the coupling 34 and bowl 35 will be raised the distance from the bead 39 to the bead 37 or ,38 to compensate for the difference in length from the socket to the filament between the one hundred and fifty watts lamp and the two hundred watts lamp.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a rigid supporting member suspended from a ceiling, of a socket screw-threadedly secured to the lower end of said supporting member, an electric lamp bulb screw-threadedly connected to the lower end of said socket in position to effect indirect illumination by cooperation with the ceiling, a single bowl composed of a light interrupting substance and having a central opening to receive the lamp bulb, connecting means for securing the bowl in place where the lower end of the bulb will protrude down through the bowl, said connecting means connecting said supporting member to the inner end of the bowl and a closure composed of alight interrupting substance extending up above the upper face of the inner end of thebowl and to the upper level of the filament of the bulb and conforming to the shape of, and enclosing the lower protruding end of the bulb.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination with 3. depending supporting member, of an electric lamp bulb depending froln'said supporting member, a. bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of the lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free protruding end of the lamp bulb, the upper end of the cap extending up above the upper face of the inner end of the bowl and having an annular flange extending beneath the lower face of the bowl to support the bowl, and fastening means connected at their upper ends to said supporting member and at their lower ends to the flange of said cap to secure the same in place.

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a depending supporting member, of an electric lamp bulb depending from said supporting member, a bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of'the lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free protruding end of the lamp bulb, the upper end of the cap having an annular flange extending beneath and adjacent to the lower 35 face of the bowl to support the bowl, and fastening strips connected at their upper ends .to said supporting member and formed into hooks at their lower ends to extend under the lower end a of the flange of said cap to support the same in place.

4. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a depending supporting member, of an electric lamp bulb depending from said supporting member, a bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of the lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free protruding end of the lamp bulb, the upper end of the cap having an annular flange extending beneath the lower face of the bowl to support the bowl, there being openings in the lower ends of said supporting member, and fastening strips having resilient clamping fingers extending through said openings, the lower ends of said fastening strips having hook portions bent outwardly and back upon themselves, the inner lower face of the bowl resting on the flange of said cap and the flange of said cap resting on the upper surface of the backwardly bent portions of said hook portions.

5'. In a lighting fixture, the combination with no a depending supporting member, of an electric lamp bulb depending from said supporting mem-' her, a bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of the lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free protruding end of the lamp bulb, the upper 5 end of the cap having an annular flange extending beneath the lower face of the bowl to support the bowl, there being openings formed in the lower end of said supporting member equally spaced from one another, and fastening strips, each fastening strip having at its upper end a resilient clamping finger and at its lower end a double hook consisting of an outwardly bent portion and another portion bent back upon said outwardly bent portion, the inner end of the inner lower face of the bowl resting on the flange of said cap and the flange of the cap resting on the backwardly bent portion of said hook.

6. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a supporting member depending from a. ceiling, of an electric lamp bulb depending from said supporting member, a bowl composed of a light interrupting substance and having a central opening to receive the free end of the lamp bulb, a metal can enclosing the free end of the lamp bulb, the upper end of the cap being bent downwardly upon itself and then outwardly to form a laterally extending flange, and fastening strips, each fastening strip having a clamping finger at its upper end and a hook bent outwardly and back upon itself at its lower end, the clamping fingers being secured to the supporting -mem ber, the lower inner face of the bowl resting on the flange of said cap and the outwardly extending flange of said cap resting on the upper faces of the backwardly bent portions of said hooks.

7. In a lighting fixture, the combination with 9. depending supporting member, a lamp socket secured to said supporting member, a socket covi said lamp socket, an electric lamp bulb depending from said socket, a bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of said lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free end of said lamp bulb, a glass connector enclosing the upper portion of said lamp bulb its upper'end to the lower end of said socket covering and at its lower end having an outer shoulder to support said bowl and an inner groove, and fastening means cooperating with the groove in said glass connector to anchor said cap in place.

8. In a lighting fixture, the combination with 2. depending supporting member, of an electric lamp bulb depending from said supporting member, a bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of said lamp bulb, a cap enclosing the free end of said lamp bulb, a glass connector enclosing the upper portion of the lamp bulb and connected at its upper end to said supporting member and having at its lower end an outering secured I to andsecuredatwardly extending shoulder and an inwardly facin recess, the inner lower face of the bowl restin on the outer shoulder of said glass connector, and spring clips secured to the cap and clampingly engaged in the inwardly facing recess of said glass connector.

9. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a rigid depending supporting member, of an electric lamp socket rigidly connected to the lower end of said supporting member, a lamp bulb removably connected to the lower end ,0! said socket, a single bowl having a central opening to receive the free end of the lamp bulb, a cap for covering and snugly engaging the protruding end of the lamp bulb, and connecting means extending down from said supporting member to engage the lower face of the inner edge of the bowl and to engage said cap to position the bowl where the upper end of said cap extends up above the upper face of such inner end of the bowl.

W. ARCHDQALD WELDEN. 

